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MEXICO 

by 
JOSEPH  WHARTON 


PRIVATELY  PRINTED 

<Cf)ri£tma£ 

1902 


MEXICO 

by 
JOSEPH  WHARTON 


PRIVATELY   PRINTED 

Christmas 

1902 


Cops  right,   1 1)02 
B  v     J o  J  e p  h    Whar  to  n 


of  |.  B.  Lippincott  Company 
Philadelphia 


p 


MEXICO 


I 

\\  1 1  i    thou   have   respite   from   this   modern   life 
That  wastes  thy  soul   in   trade's  or  fashion's  strife? 
Wilt  thou   cast  off   dull   toil   and   paltry  care, 
In    Nature's  tree  magnificence  to  share? 
Lov'st    thou    the   tales   ot    old,   romantic   times, 
(  )t   wild  adventures  in   luxurious  climes? 
And   soars  thy  eager  fancy  tar  away, 
I  ii   reach   some   tropic   Eden   or  Cathay, 
Where  thou   in  sunny  happiness  may'st  ranee 
'Mid   scenes  and   peoples  picturesquely  strange? 
Fond  dreamer,   pining  thus,  why  hunger  so? 
Before  thee  lies   mysterious    Mexico. 


LA    VIGA    CANAL   AND    CUSTOM-HOUSE 


II 

Vast,   sun-dried    table  lands,  where  dust-whirls   rise 
Like   phantom   serpents   struggling  to  the  skies; 
Huge,  barren   mountains  veined  with  precious  ore, 

\ii  h    for   past  centuries,   rich   tor  ages   more  ; 

5  road,   placid   lakes   where  wildfowl   feed  and   splash. 
Superb  ravines  where  plunging  torrents  dash, 

mperial   peaks  with  gleaming  snow-crest  crowned, 

I  he   beacons  ol   a   hundred   miles  around; 

.arge,   fertile  regions  stretching  warm  and  wade 
To   meet   the  ocean    hounds   on   either  side  ; 

irandeur  and   loveliness  in   endless  show  ; 

)elicious   air.       All    this   is    Mexico. 


VALLEY    OF    PUEBLA,    CHOLULA,     FROM     I1IK     TOP    OF   THE 
AZTEC    PYR  Willi 


RUINS    AT    AIA'ARAImi 


Ill 

Pines  on   the  mountain,  palms  upon  the  plain, 
Abounding  wealth  of  coffee,  corn,  and  cane, 
(actus  and   yucca  ot   quaint   prickly  forms, 
Armed  at  all   points,   unheeding  toes  or  storms  ; 
Maguey,   whose   serried   ranks   (ill   many  a  held, 
That   fiery  mesial   and   smooth  pulque  yield  ; 
(  ray  birds  and   insects,  countless  fruits  and   flowers, 
Bull-fights  profaning  the  sweet  Sabbath  hours; 
Ploughs  made  of  wood,  that  feebly  scratch  the  ground 
\\  heat   threshed   on   dirt  by  oxen   trampling  round  ; 
Tortillas  and   frijoles.      He  will  grow 
Vcquaint   with  these  who  visits   Mexico. 


STREET   VIEW,    CORDOVA,    SHOWING    PEAK    OF   ORIZABA 


f»v&&&jMii 


BUM.    FIGHT—  ENTRANCE   OF   THE   FIGHTERS 


[V 

White   towns  and   cities   that  recall   old   Spain, 
As  it   the   Moor  and  Cid  were  come  again, 
l>\    stony  roads  approached  on   every  side, 
Where   mule   trains   toil   and   caballeros   ride  ; 
Tall  stone  cathedrals,  huts  of  reeds  and  clay, 
Like   priests   that   rule  'mid   humble   folk   that  pax-  ; 
A   crude  republic,  rogues  and  patriots   blent 
With   the  great   mass  to   both   indifferent. 
The   soldier  patient,   rascally,  and   brave, 
I  he   peasant  abject,   but   not  quite  a  slave  : 
A    furtive    race,   dark,    superstitious,    slow. 
Skilled   in   old   arts,    is   that  of   Mexico. 


THE   CATHEDRAL,    CITY    OF    MEXICO 


A    NATIVE    HUT    BY    THE    W  U    SIDE,    CORDO\  \ 


V 

(  hit   from   the  towns,  with  their  commingled  strain 
(  >t    Spanish  blood,  these   native   men   remain 
The  Indian   tribes   I  lernando  Cortes  met, 
Their  ancient  languages  not   perished  yet, 
Nor  dim  observance  of  old  heathen  rite, 
Nor  savage  passion,  deadly  quick  in   fight; 
\  et  kindly  aid  to  stranger  guest  is  given, 
And    Mary  trusted  as  the  Queen  oi    I  leaven. 
Knowing  and  having  little,  but  content, 
In   daily  toil   their  simple  lives  are"  spent. 
A    base  content  is   this  the  gods  bestow; 
M<anlv   to   live   m    glorious    Mexico. 


H 


^■1  I 


FARMER    HOYS.    ORIZABA 


INDIAN    BOYS,    TOLUCA 


VI 
For,  when   in    Mexico's  barbaric  day 
Fierce   king  and  host  met  king  in  bloody  fray; 
When  captives,   to  the  war-gods1   temples  led, 
Were  butchered  by  the  priests,  who  on  them  fed, 
Their  grim   idolatry's  abhorrent  blight 
Blinded  all   eyes  to  reason's  cheerful  light; 
And   when   the  conquering  Spanish  bigots  came. 
Little   recked   they  of   mercy  or  of  shame. 
Ground   by  such  cruel  centuries  of   wrong, 
What   race  was  ever  frankly  true  or  strong? 
This  race,   outlasting  king  and  priest  and  foe. 
Abides  and   waits,    possessing   Mexico. 


f;  ;>».-#>'. 


NATIVES    PLOUGHING    WITH    OXEN,    LEON 


CHURCH    l:UM     BY    't'KI  is,    CHOLULA 


VII 
Historic  splendors  have,   they  ot    their  own. 
See  the  great   Montezuma  fill  their  throne. 
Ruling,   except   small  Tlaxcala,   all  the  land 
With  the  stern   mastery  ot    supreme  command. 
I  lis   foes   subjected,    and   as   vassals   tied. 
Empire  and  tribute  his  on  every  side, 
from    north   to   south,    from  coast   to  high  plateau, 
I  lis   will   is   law,   his  swift-foot  runners  go. 
What  though  strange  lords  their  race;  in  bondage  held 
In   alter  days!      Were   not   those  lords  expelled? 
Well   may  their  past   inspire  a   patriot  glow 
01    hope  and   faith   for  future   Mexico. 


VQUEDUCT   OF   THE   ('IKE,    ATOTO 


\\  I  M  E    DEE    ORIENT,    CITY    OF     MEXICO 


VII] 

Meanwhile  a   deep  and    true  content  is  theirs, 
(  )ne   that    their  highest   with  the  humblest  shares  ; 
The  sweet   repose  <>!   home,   the  ties  of  kin, 
With   all   the   bliss  that   faithful   love  can   win. 
Does   vice   offend;    what  land   from   vice  is  clean? 
No  tongue  defends  it,   for  no  plea  can   screen. 
Bui   see  the  countless  homes  where  virtue  reigns, 
\\  here   loud   affection   hinds  with  silken   chains  ; 
Parents  with  children  linked  in   sweet  accord, 
Friend   true  to   friend,  and  spouse;  by  spouse  adored 
\\  hat    purer   happiness   dwells    here   below, 
I  han    in    the   sacred   homes   ol    Mexico? 


/  \<    \  I  El    \- 


N  \  1  I \  1 .    Ill    rs,    Jl    VN  V.CATLAN 


IX 
And   lo  !    A   tint  of  dawn   is  in   the  sky, 
That   tdls  <>t    fateful  changes  drawing  nigh  ; 

For  even   here   the   modern   impulse  stirs, 

And   here   the   truth   has  honest  worshippers. 

Not   vainly  does   the   nation's  spirit  wake, 

Resolved  a   nobler  course  henceforth  to  take, 

[<>   share   the  great  world's   progress,   and   to   stand 

Erect  beside  our  friendly   neighboring  land. 

These   men,  who  twice  have  burst   their  alien   chain. 

Must    soke   the   easier   problems   that   remain. 

What  affluent  wealth  and  glory  may  they  know, 

When   they  are   men   to   match   their   Mexico! 


THE    VALLEY    OF    MALTRADA 


THE   TERRACE,    CASTLE   OF    (HAITI   I  I  in 


X 

Need   the)    a   friendly   ruler  by  their  side, 

rhe  law's  strong  champion  and  his  country's  pride 

A   chid  courageous,   temperate,  and   just. 

On   whom   their  hearts   may  lean   with  loyal  trust; 

One   who   will   show   them   how  in   every   land, 

Nature's  crude  hoards  yield  to  the  skilful  hand, 

And   how,  with  equal   rights,   each  opening'  mind 

May   all    the   roads   to   power  and   increase  find? 

As  rose  our  Washington,   serenely  great. 
And   patient   Lincoln,   saviour  of  the  State; 
rheir   native  Juarez   laid   the   usurper  low, 
fheir   Diaz   guards  and   guides  their   Mexico. 


BENITO   JUAREZ 
First    President  of  Mexico 


PORFIRIO    DIAZ 
President   of  Mexico 


XI 
(  )h.   land   majestic  !    Apt   for  all   delight, 

Sweet  womanly  languors,  and  high  deeds  <>t  man. 

Lie   prone   no   more  beneath   the  palsying  ban 
Of  crusted   usage!     On   thy  valleys  dight 
With   tropic   verdure,    thy  cold   mountains'   height, 

And   blissful    slopes   which   temperate-  breezes  fan. 

Breathes  the  new    air  that  through  the  ages  ran 
\\  henever  God   turned   men   toward  the  light. 
hoes  our  proud   race  alone  enjoy  the   sun. 

Or  does   the   rain   make  yreen   no  fields  but  ours  ? 
Prophetic  eyes  but  faintly  have  begun 

Io   see   the  lofty  climax   of    thy   powers, 
\\  hen   the   lull   noontide  of    thy  day  is   won. 

And  gathering  night  on   weary   Europe  lowers. 

JOSEPH    WHARTON 


]*nii  \di  i Mil  v,    May,   iS.,1 


FALLS    OF   JUANACATLAN 


VIEW   (if    PUEBLA,    SHOWING    MOUNT    POPOCATEPETL 


DIYPOPAp  AZTECA. 

em  mmw  fw  got  winri  ei  on  is  »e  uwti 

K  1711  »l  BTEUI  EL  WW  K  U  FLIZi  MiTM  K 
U  OMU  K  KEIIW,  1 17  Mill  II  FOIIMTE  ICl 
PILien  UCIMiL  T  1 1L  MtTC  K  U  1CENU  (HE 

UUTIifTIOItElEIESELUtK 


llll  fZILOPOSTLI,     \/  i  l  l     GOD   OF   WAR 


STATUE   OF   QUAUHTEMOC,    CITY    OF    MEXICO 


I  NIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA,  LOS  ANGELES 

THE  UNIVERSITY  LIBRARY 

This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below 


JUL 


9    84b 


DEC2  81949 
APR  1  0  1989 
JUNIOR' 


00.2TcflS  "IHAQ,C3y 


REC'DYRL  SEP  12 '00 


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MM    7198; 
JUL  28i$iu 
4WK  SEP  1 2  20(10 


Foi  m  i.    • 
2.-,m-10.'  uceioi) 


■:*V--^"*  XV 


L  006  345  548  9 


UC  SOUTHERN  REGIONAL  LIBRARY  FACILITY 


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